T.F. Leung

Efficacy and tolerability of a Chinese herbal medicine concoction for treatment of atopic dermatitis: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study

Background  There has been considerable interest in traditional Chinese herbal medicine (TCHM) as a treatment for atopic dermatitis (AD). A twice‐daily concoction of an ancestral formula containing five herbs has been found to be beneficial in an open study.

A polymorphism in the coding region of interleukin-13 gene is associated with atopy but not asthma in Chinese children

Background Interleukin (IL)‐13 is an important cytokine secreted from type 2 helper T lymphocytes. It is essential for modulating IgE synthesis by human B cells. Previous studies showed that polymorphisms in the IL‐13 gene were associated with serum total IgE or allergic asthma. The relationship of this marker with sensitization to individual aeroallergens has not been evaluated.

Declining asthma prevalence in Hong Kong Chinese schoolchildren

Background Many studies have reported an increase in the prevalence of asthma and related atopic disorders. The lack of standardized methodologies and ‘objective’ measurements make reliable comparison and monitoring of trends of asthma very difficult.

High levels and gender difference of exhaled nitric oxide in Chinese schoolchildren

Background Exhaled nitric oxide (eNO) may represent a useful noninvasive marker of airway inflammation, but data on the reference population values in schoolchildren are limited. No reference eNO study in Asian children has been published.

Increased macrophage-derived chemokine in exhaled breath condensate and plasma from children with asthma

Background Type 2 helper T lymphocyte‐specific chemokines including macrophage‐derived chemokine (MDC), thymus and activation‐regulated chemokine (TARC) and eotaxin are important mediators for allergic airway inflammation.

Symptoms of asthma and atopic disorders in preschool children: prevalence and risk factors

Background Published epidemiological data suggested that asthma and allergies may be increasing in preschool children. Identification of the risk factors is important for planning possible early intervention to prevent asthma. This study was designed to measure the prevalence of, and risk factors for, asthma and atopic disorders in preschool children from Hong Kong.

Does age or gender influence quality of life in children with atopic dermatitis

Background.  Quality of life (QoL) is impaired in children with atopic dermatitis (AD) but the various aspects of QoL may not be equally affected.

Asthma and atopy are associated with DEFB1 polymorphisms in Chinese children

Human β-defensin (HBD)-1 is constitutively expressed in the airway, and hBD-1 plays crucial roles in innate immunity against respiratory pathogens. Asthma was associated with DEFB1 polymorphisms in Caucasians. This study investigates whether three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 5′-untranslated region of DEFB1 are associated with asthma phenotypes in Chinese children. Subjects aged 5–18 years were recruited from general pediatric clinics. Plasma IgE concentrations were measured by immunoassays. DEFB1 SNPs were characterized by restriction fragment length polymorphism. In all, 305 asthmatics and 156 controls were recruited. For asthma diagnosis, atopy and plasma total IgE, higher percentages of subjects with these outcomes had the minor alleles −20A and −52G (P=0.041–0.0002). For log-transformed total IgE, the covariate was positive and significant for G-20A under recessive model (P=0.001) and for G-52A under both recessive and codominant models (P=0.008 and 0.035). The recessive model covariate was also positive and significant (P=0.020) for C-44G on peripheral blood eosinophil count. The GCA haplotype of DEFB1 was significantly associated with asthma (odds ratio (95% confidence interval): 1.64 (1.05–2.57); P=0.029). These results suggest that DEFB1 is a candidate gene for asthma and atopy in children.

Mercury intoxication presenting with tics

A 5 year old Chinese boy presented with recurrent oral ulceration followed by motor and vocal tics. The Chinese herbal spray he used for his mouth ulcers was found to have a high mercury content. His blood mercury concentration was raised. Isolated tics as the sole presentation of mercury intoxication has not previously been reported.

Nitric oxide synthase polymorphisms and asthma phenotypes in Chinese children.

Background Nitric oxide (NO) is a key factor for balancing T‐helper type 1/T‐helper type 2 immunity. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in nitric oxide synthase (NOS) genes have been associated with atopy and exhaled NO concentrations in Caucasians. We investigated the association between asthma traits and genetic polymorphisms in neuronal NO synthase (NOS1) and endothelial NO synthase (NOS3) in Chinese children.